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Become a Link in the Chain of Cardiac Survival

If someone you love suddenly went into cardiac arrest and stopped breathing, would you know what to do? Many Americans die each year from sudden cardiac arrest, but with the right tools and citizen training, thousands could survive.

During sudden cardiac arrest, the heart muscle stops pumping and quivers, a condition called ventricular fibrillation. A small percentage of patients who suffer a sudden cardiac arrest outside of the hospital survive.

Lives Saved

While celebrating her 48th birthday, Julie Lycksell suddenly collapsed and stopped breathing. Her friend asked someone to call 911, while her husband and a restaurant patron started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Within a minute or 2, a policeman trained in using an automated external defibrillator (AED) arrived and administered life-saving pulses of electricity. Unlike most sudden cardiac arrest victims, Lycksell had no history of heart trouble, and doctors could not determine why she developed an abnormal heart rhythm.

If it wasn't for the CPR and AED interventions, Lycksell may not have survived.

Learning the Chain of Survival

Rapid initiation of the American Heart Association's Chain of Survival may save the lives of people who experience sudden cardiac arrest.

Here's what to do:

Performing CPR

The American Heart Association, American Red Cross, and other organizations conduct classes to teach citizens how to administer CPR. Researchers have found that young people and adults older than 60 were able to learn the life-saving skill online and then successfully perform CPR on a mannequin.

Defibrillators: The Difference Between Life and Death

Early defibrillation plays a key role in improving the odds someone will survive sudden cardiac arrest without brain damage. The American Heart Association's emergency care guidelines place a stronger emphasis on early defibrillation and improved access to AEDs. Heartsaver AED CPR classes include information about how to use the devices.

Many studies have found that about half of those who suffer sudden cardiac arrest will survive when trained people administer CPR and AED CPR. Overall survival rates are improving as more and more communities increase their access to AEDs.

AEDs are found in airports, shopping malls, casinos, community centers, and sports or medical facilities and some businesses. AEDs can be somewhat costly and are available over the counter, without prescription. If you purchase an AED, be sure to get proper training on how to safely use it.

RESOURCES:

American Heart Association
http://www.heart.org

Citizen CPR Foundation, Inc.
https://www.citizencpr.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Public Health Agency of Canada
https://www.canada.ca

The College of Family Physicians of Canada
http://www.cfpc.ca

REFERENCES:

Adult basic life support (BLS). EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T909682/Adult-basic-life-support-BLS. Updated January 9, 2018. Accessed February 9, 2018.

Adult first aid/CPR/AED. American Red Cross website. Available at: https://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4240170_Adult_ready_reference.pdf. Accessed February 9, 2018.

Cardiac arrest in adults. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T116814/Cardiac-arrest-in-adults. Updated January 9, 2018. Accessed February 9, 2018.

Hands-only CPR. American Heart Association website. Available at:http://cpr.heart.org/AHAECC/CPRAndECC/Programs/HandsOnlyCPR/UCM_475604_Learn-More-about-How-to-Save-a-Life-with-Hands-Only-CPR.jsp. Accessed February 9, 2018.

Out-of-hospital chain of survival. American Heart Association website. Available at: http://cpr.heart.org/AHAECC/CPRAndECC/AboutCPRFirstAid/CPRFactsAndStats/UCM_475731_Out-of-hospital-Chain-of-Survival.jsp. Accessed February 9, 2018.

10/15/2010 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillancehttp://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T909682/Adult-basic-life-support-BLS: Bobrow BJ, Spaite DW, Berg RA, et al. Chest compression-only CPR by lay rescuers and survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. JAMA. 2010;304(13):1447-1454.

Last reviewed January 2018 by Michael Woods, MD